Green Belarus

News & EventsNews & Events in Belarusin Belarus

http://ecoinfo.bas-net.by/ecology-belarus/ecology_news_in_Belarus.html

№ 1 (5), December, 2013

January, 2014 MINSK, BELARUS

THIS ISSUE: Minsk to host IEC General Assembly in Octo-

ber 2015 .............................................................. 1

Belarus designates three new Ramsar sites . 1

EU/UNDP wetland conservation project to kick

off in Belarus in February .................................. 1

Installation of solar power station in Bykhov

underway .......................................................... 2

Belarusian polar explorers raise NASB flag on

South Pole .......................................................... 2

Belarus, Armenia to set up joint reservoir re-

search center .................................................... 2

Belarus to get €1.5m under EU Belovezhskaya Pushcha project ................................................ 2

Dedicated climate change agency possible

in Belarus ............................................................. 2

MAZ now offers Euro 4+ vehicle ..................... 3

Belarus, Russia to build factory to neutralize

expired pesticides ............................................. 3

More money for Belarusian waste recycling

system…………………...........……………………...3

Belarus, Russia mull over cross-border tour

Poozerie Blue Ring ............................................ 3

Belarus, Russia to set up biodiversity working

group .................................................................. 4

Clima East opens call for bids for technical

assistance ........................................................... 4

UNDP/GEF support for multistoried energy-

effective buildings in Minsk, Grodno ............ 4

NTI: Belarus’ nuclear security index improves significantly ........................................................ 5

Radioactive contamination zone list to be

reduced in Belarus ........................................... 5

WB recommends Belarus to develop national

strategy of water and sanitation sector ....... 5

Chinese Electrical Outlet, Or How Chinese

Help Belarusians To Solve Energy Deficit? .... 6

Belarus’ experience in use of energy-efficient

technologies featured in UNDP review ......... 6

The EU Helps Belarusians Sort Their

Waste……....7

Myadel District unveils plans for solar cell pow-

er plant ............................................................... 7

Sasaki’s Master Plan for Minsk, Belarus Turns an Airport Site Into a Vibrant Cultural Hub ......... 8

Belarus, European Commission sign agree-

ment to finance MOST project ....................... 8

Belarus updates list of high-tech products ... 8

The nature reserves Vydritsa, Kozyansky and Pripyatsky

National Park have been included in the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance, Natalia Minchenko, the head of bio-

logical and landscape diversity at the Ministry of Natural Re-

sources and Environment of Belarus, told a press conference dedi-

cated to the World Day of Wetlands, which is annually marked on 2 February.

The new Belarusian sites are designated as Important Bird Are-

as. The sites include bogs, peatlands, swamps and lakes, as well as rivers

and their floodplains. Currently, 16 sites in Belarus have Ramsar status, including Olmalnskie swamps, Sporovsky, Middle Pripyat, Zvanets,

Prostyr, Kotra, Osveysky, Yelnya, and others.

The Convention on Wetlands, or the Ramsar Convention, was

signed in Ramsar, Iran, in 1971. This is an intergovernmental treaty that embodies the commitments of its member countries to maintain the eco-

logical character of their wetlands of international importance and to plan

for sustainable use of all of the wetlands in their territories. Today 168

countries are parties to the Convention. The Ramsar list includes more

than 2,170 wetlands. Belarus joined the Ramsar Convention in September 1999.

belta.by, 31.01.2014

BELARUS DESIGNATES THREE NEW RAMSAR SITES

SUPPLEMENT

TO THE DIGEST“GREEN BELARUS”

ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION CENTER

"ECO-INFO"

CENTRAL SCIENTIFIC LIBRARY NAS BELARUS

EU/UNDP wetland conservation project to kick off in Belarus in February

The EU/UNDP project “Conservation and sustainable management of peatlands in Belarus to minimize carbon emissions and help ecosys-

tems to adapt to climate change" will be

launched in Belarus in February 2014, Natalia

Minchenko, the head of biological and landscape diversity at the Ministry of Natural Resources

and Environment of Belarus, told a press confer-

ence.

The goal of the four-year project is to restore the bog wetlands Zvanets and Sporovskoye (Brest

Oblast), major nesting sites of Aquatic warbler listed in

the Red Book List of Endangered Species. Aquatic

warbler is recognized worldwide as a globally threat-ened species (according to the International Union for Conservation of

Nature). The Aquatic warbler population has been steadily shrinking.

According to the records, the Aquatic warbler population in Bela-

rus was approximately 12,000 in 1997. This amount is the minimum one to

allow the population to survive, said Alexander Kazulin, head of the sector for international cooperation and scientific support of environmental con-

ventions at the research center for bio-resources at the National Academy

of Sciences. The size of the Aquatic warbler population which would be

considered normal for Belarus is not less than 50,000. Now there are only 6,000-8,000 left in Belarus. The population of this bird species continues to

decline.

Before 1980s, i.e. before large areas were drained, reeds, shrubs

and woody vegetation would be scythed by locals for hay. Once large neighboring areas had been drained, local farmers got easy access to large

neighboring newly dry areas for hay-making, and so cutting of un-drained

peatlands fell dramatically. As a result, the proliferation of shrubs and trees

onto open fens and bogs has grown to a dramatic extent, threatening the

very existent of open fen and bog peatlands as a biotope. This negative succession of vegetation entails disappearance of unique species of flora

and fauna found only on open peatlands.

Therefore, active conservation management (physical removal of

shrubs at large scale) will be required to maintain the health of peatland ecosystems. Measures have been devised to restore the hydrological re-

gime of the wetlands in belarus. Equipment will be purchased for the har-

vesting and processing of biomass.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has been designated as the executing agency in Belarus. The project will be imple-

mented with the support of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus,

national nature reserves Zvanets and Sporovsky, local authorities of the

Drogichin and Bereza districts and the APB BirdLife Belarus public associa-tion.

belta.by, 31.01.2014

MINSK TO HOST IEC GENERAL ASSEMBLY

IN OCTOBER 2015 Minsk will play host to the General

Assembly of the International Energy Com-mission (IEC) in October 2015, Viktor Naza-

renko, the Chairman of the State Committee

for Standardization of Belarus, chairman of

the Belarusian national committee at the IEC, told a press conference on 29 January, BelTA

has learned.

Staging such a

global event in Belarus at-tests to the trust in Belarus,

said Viktor Nazarenko. This is

not only a great honor for us.

This is also a great responsi-bility. Holding such a large-

scale event will confirm

Belarus‘ readiness to cooper-ation at a high level, will allow evaluating its scien-

tific and technological capacities, conditions for investment, which will ultimately have a positive

effect on the country‘s rating in the global trade. It is expected that the event will bring

together about 1,200 experts and specialists from around the world who shape the international

technical policy in the markets of electrical engi-

neering, electronics, information and communica-

tion technology, energy efficiency, alternative and renewable energy. The two-week forum (from 5 to

16 October) in Minsk will feature more than three

dozens of events.

This is a major opportunity to involve the

domestic industry, science and business in the work of international technical committees where they

actively promote Belarus‘ interests in the develop-ment of international standards, keep abreast of

the latest trends at the earliest stages of the pro-cess, and put forward relevant ideas and themes,

particularly in export-oriented industries, Viktor

Nazarenko noted.

The involvement of the Belarusian sci-ence, industry and business in the process of devel-

oping international standards will play a significant

role in improving the quality and competitiveness of

products, and help us catch up with modern tech-nical requirements, Viktor Nazarenko believes. It

will also contribute to the development of existing

and establishment of new national testing laborato-

ries and conformity assessment organizations with

international accreditation and recognition. "This event is one of those platforms

where we can advertise ourselves, listen to part-

ners and establish good relationships, and reach

specific investment arrangements and contracts," said Viktor Nazarenko.

After the IEC General Assembly in Minsk

some Belarusian companies (maybe 40-50) may

become active members of the international tech-nical committees, and this will be the most signifi-

cant result, Viktor Nazarenko said. ―It would be also great if after the General Assembly many of

our enterprises sign partnership agreements, in-

vestment agreements with global companies to create joint ventures or branches, start manufac-

turing a new product,‖ he said. ―It is very important that the foreign

guests who will spend two weeks in Belarus will make sure that Belarus is a partner with whom

they can work in a variety of areas, including in the

areas of manufacture, export of products,‖ Viktor Nazarenko also noted.

belta.by, 29.01.2014

GREEN BELARUS

P. 2 NEWS & EVENTS IN BELARUS

Installation of a 2.5MW solar power station has been launched in Bykhov, Mogilev Oblast, BelTA learnt from the depart-ment of energy, fuel and energy saving of the Mogilev Oblast Exec-utive Committee.

The investment project on the production of electricity out of renewable sources in Aviatsionnaya Street in Bykhov is implemented by Tycoon Company. The company has received a seven-hectare area where solar panels with the total capacity of 230kW have been installed. This year there are plans to complete the first stage of the project and put online a 600kW power station. It is expected that the designed capacity of 2.5MW will be reached in 2015.

Tycoon Company has gained strong foothold on the Mogilev mar-ket. The company is the region‘s leader in alternative energy development. The company has installed and commissioned eight wind power stations, including five in 2013. Their maximum capacity is almost 4MW. Tycoon plans to build five more wind power stations (a total of 3MW) in Gorki District in 2014-2015. A 400kW solar power station has been put online in Mogilev Oblast.

Founded on 3 March 2008, Tycoon Company specializes in the construction and maintenance of power stations using renewable energy.

belta.by, 29.01.2014

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BELARUS TO GET €1.5M UNDER EU BELOVEZHSKAYA PUSHCHA PROJECT

Installation of solar power Installation of solar power station in Bykhov underwaystation in Bykhov underway

Rescuers of Grodno and Brest Oblasts are taking part in the project of international technical aid, Save Be-lovezhskaya Pushcha, BelTA learnt from Sergei Khmara, the senior spe-cialist at the department of the state emergency warning system and civil defense of the Grodno Oblast Office of the Emergencies Ministry.

The project is aimed at the develop-ment of an integrated protection system for the population and environment in the Belovezh-skaya Pushcha cross-border regions, enhance-ment of the qualifications of fire-fighting units in rescue operations. The project will also focus on further cooperation between the rescue agencies of Poland and Belarus. Under the project, the beneficiaries are two Belarusian regional departments and Poland‘s autonomous association, Euroregion Belovezhskaya Push-cha. The budget totals €4.3 million. The budget of the Belarusian part makes up over €1.7 million, including the EU‘s €1.5 million grant. Co-financing in the two regions will exceed

€170,000. The project imple-mentation term is June 2015. The project preparation works revealed the low equipment status of fire and rescue brigades for quick emergency response in Belovezhskaya Pushcha, first of all, wildfires. There is a need to enhance the environmental control of the forests as well as the cooperation level between

Belarusian and Polish rescue teams in the cross-border areas. There are plans to purchase three modern fire-rescue vehicle for Brest and four for Grodno departments of the Emergen-cies Minsitry, four sets of rescue equipment, fire and rescue vehicles and boats for Polish rescue services. Employees of the two countries will take special training courses.

belta.by, 16.01.2014

Also on:

Belovezhskaya Pushcha attracts over 60,000 visitors on New Year holidays

Union State bison breeding concept signed

Belarus, Armenia to set up joint reservoir research center

Belarusian and Armenian scientists will create a joint center for reservoir research, Academician Radik Martirosyan, President of the Na-tional Academy of Sciences of Armenia, told reporters on 23 January. The Academician took part in the international conference to discuss the con-tribution of science to the innovative development of society which marked the 85th anniversary of the National Academy of Sciences and was timed to the Belarusian Science Day, BelTA has learnt.

Radik Martirosyan said that a group of Belarusian scientists will come to Armenia in May 2014 to set up a joint Belarusian-Armenian center which will conduct research of reservoirs, animals, plants and aquatic environment.

The center will be located on the bank of Lake Sevan. ―The most im-portant thing for us now is to address some organizational issues, repair the build-ing and install laboratory equipment,‖ Radik Martirosyan added. During the re-search scientists are expected to create a universal system to evaluate the ecolog-ical state of reservoirs.

belta.by, 24.01.2014

Belarus to name Bird of the Year Belarus is choosing the Bird of the Year 2015, BelTA learnt from

the APB BirdLife Belarus public association.

People can give their votes to one of the selected bird species on the webpage of the APB BirdLife or suggest their variant. The bird species that already won the title in the past are excluded from the voting.

All in all, there will be three finalists for the title: the first one will be suggested by the APB Central Board, the APB Secretariat will name the second one, and the third candi-date will be selected through the vote on the webpage.

The public association said that the winner will be decided during the APB BirdLife Belarus conference at the National Center for Ecology and Local History on 25 January. The Bird of the Year 2015 will be named through a majority vote.

Votes will be accepted until 21 January 2014.

Belarus held the Bird of the Year national campaign for the first time in 2000. The title was awarded to the common cuckoo in 2014, and to the hoopoe in 2013. Te black swift was the Bird of the Year in 2012.

belta.by, 16.01.2014

Water museum possible in Mozyr District A water museum is to be established in Mozyr District in the

Year of Hospitality, BelTA learnt from the department for ideology, cul-ture and youth affairs of the Mozyr District Executive Committee.

The museum will open in the environmental studies center in the village of Kozenki. The museum will feature several thematic expositions, like water as the basis of life, water provision network, and water conservation and saving.

At present the project managers and local scientists are busy choosing exhibits for the museum.

According to preliminary information, the museum is expected to open in the second half of the year. This will be the seventh museum in Mozyr District, which will make the district more attractive for tourists.

belta.by, 15.01.2014

Plans have been made to set up a special agency in Belarus to study climate change matters. The information was released by Igor Rogozin, Head of the Hydrometeorology Office of the Belarus-ian Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Ministry, at the press confer-ence held on 9 January, BelTA has learned.

According to the official, in Belarus for the moment there are no research divisions specializing in climate matters and the devel-opment of measures that would allow climate-dependable economy branches to prepare for and accept new conditions as painlessly as possible. ―Meanwhile, we see that climate changes do happen: Belarus faces more and more droughts, new agroclimatic zones ap-pear,‖ said Igor Rogozin.

In line with the government program for alleviating climate change consequences in 2013-2020 plans have been made to buy hydrometeorological equipment to monitor climate changes. Measures will be taken to invite the world‘s leading climatology experts to Belarus for the sake of sharing experience. However, a dedicated agency to study climate change matters is needed if good results are to be achieved.

―We are now discussing the establish-ment of such an agency with the National Hydrometeorological Center. The National Academy of Sciences of Belarus may back us in the future,‖ explained the official. He added that agencies specializing in climate changes operate in many countries.

belta.by, 9.01.2014

http://www.untogo.org/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/news/environment/un-

Dedicated climate change agency Dedicated climate change agency possible in Belaruspossible in Belarus

Bel arus i an polar explorers have raised the flag of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus (NASB) on the South Pole for the first time, leader of the Belarusian Antarctic expedition Alexei Gaidashov told the Belarus 1 TV chan-nel.

Taking part in the sixth Belarusian Antarctic expedition were Alexei Gaidashov, Yuri Giginyak, and Ilya Bruchkovsky. The flag was hoisted as a gift to their alma mater – the National Academy of Sciences – that marks its 85th anniversary this year. The scientists wished new discoveries, achievements, successes and prosperity to the NASB. A team of the Russian Antarctic expedition also gave best wishes to the NASB. The TV chan-nel showed the photos made by the scientists.

The sixth Belarusian Antarctic expedition kicked off on 5 November 2013. Instead of their permanent base (the field base Gora

Vechernyaya) this time the Belarusian polar explorers headed to the Russian sta-tion Progress in Eastern Antarctica on the shore of the Prydz Bay near the Larsemann Hills. The Bela-rusian team will arrive in Minsk in April 2014. The Belarusian polar explor-ers intend to carry out a series of scientific research, including biological, geophys-ical, meteorological studies

and ozone measurements, as well as the studies of live sea, fresh water, and subsurface using a high-precision radar (locator). The device allows getting information about the geological structure of the region avoiding drilling and seismic tech-niques that are banned in Antarctica.

These days the National Academy of Sciences is celebrating two dates – its 85th anni-versary and the Day of the Belarusian Science.

belta.by,

23.01.2014

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BELARUSIAN POLAR EXPLORERS RAISE NASB FLAG ON SOUTH POLE

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Ecuador is interested in the Bela-rusian experience in the energy sector modernization, Ecuador Vice President Jorge Glas Espinel said as he met with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in Minsk on 16 December, BelTA has learnt.

―This morning we started our program with a meeting of the working group on energy. We got familiar with your effort to upgrade this important industry. This theme is very important for us because we are going to implement very

big industrialization plans, and the key to success is energy,‖ said the Vice President of Ecuador.

Ecuador Vice President Jorge Glas Espinel noted that Ecuador has great hydro-power potential. There are plans to build about

eight hydroelectric power plants and potentially get most of the electricity from hydroelectric power plants.

belta.by, 16.12.2013

Ecuador is interested in Belarus’ experience in energy sector modernization

МЕЖДУНАРОДНЫЙ

P. 3 NEWS & EVENTS IN BELARUS

Belarus and Russia are planning a cross-border tour itinerary

Poozerie Blue Ring, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment of Belarus Vladimir Tsalko said at the joint meeting of the Ministry of Natural

Resources and Environment of Belarus and the Ministry of Nature and

Ecology of Russia on 20 December, BelTA has learnt.

It is expected that the Belarusian-Russian cross-border tourist trail will include the Berezino

biosphere reserve, Narochansky national park,

Braslav Lakes, Smolensk Lakeland and Sebezhsky

National Parks. A lot of effort has been placed this year to

develop the route. In July a joint action plan on

cooperation was adopted between the conservation

areas of Belarus and the Association of Reserves and National Parks of Russian North-West for 2013-2014.

Smolensk Lakeland National Park signed an agreement with the Institute

of Experimental Botany of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus on joint

research in exploring the biodiversity of Smolensk Lakeland National Park.

―Development of cooperation in the environmental sector between Belarus and Russia is seen as crucial, especially owing to territorial vicinity of the two

states,‖ Vladimir Tsalko stressed. belta.by,

20.12.2013

An international stem cell technology center will open in Minsk in June 2014, Sergei Kilin, Chief Academic Secretary of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, told BelTA.

The opening of the first stage of the center will be held on 1 April. The center will start working in full in June. The center will special-ize in the production of stem cells and their use in the treatment of various illnesses,

reveal genetic predisposition to different sports and illnesses. ―At present it is im-portant to conduct all necessary legal procedures for conclusions issued by the center,‖ Sergei Kilin said.

The scientific base of the project will be kept at the Institute of Biophysics and Cell Engineering while patients will be admitted to Minsk hospital No.9. Partak-ing in the project is the EurAsEC Center of Innovation Technologies.

belta.by, 23.01.2014

Also on:

NASB keeps nano, biotechnologies in focus

New FEZ Grodnoinvest resident to make environmentally friendly packagings

Belarus and Rus-sia have reached an agreement to build a factory to neutralize pesticides, which are no longer fit for use. The information was released by Belarusian Natural Resources and Environ-mental Protection Minis-ter Vladimir Tsalko at the joint session of the boards of the Belarusian Natural Re-sources and Environmental Protection Ministry and the Russian Natural Re-sources and Ecology Ministry on 20 De-cember, BelTA has learned.

―A verbal agreement has been reached for now, but we plan to get actively involved in the project,‖ noted Vladimir Tsalko.

It is not surprising that Russia is interested in the experience Belarus has accu-mulated getting rid of expired pesticides. The experience is unique in the post-Soviet space. It is confirmed by the interest that specialists from Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Armenia, Moldo-va, Ukraine and other ex-USSR republics show in Belarusian work.

So far Belarus has fully liqui-dated three out of the seven expired pesticide stockpiles, which the country had initial-ly. However, Belarus still has to deal with about 7,000 tonnes of such pesticides. Some of the pesticides have been transported to Germany for neutralization while some

are in temporary storage.

―We also have plans to stage a land clearance day together with other Customs Union member states, maybe Ukraine,‖ added Vladimir Tsalko.

Pesticides are dangerous chemicals that negatively affect the environment and human health. International medical research-es that have been carried out for the last 20 years indicate that expired pesticides provoke the development of such diseases as cancer, degradation of kidneys, the nervous system, the thyroid and the skin, the development of pathologies in children.

belta.by, 20.12.2013

BELARUS, RUSSIA TO BUILD FACTORY TO NEUTRALIZE EXPIRED PESTICIDES

TO PEAT OR NOT TO PEAT?

A new resident company of the free economic zone Grodnoinvest will make environmentally friendly containers and packaging, BelTA learned from Dmitry Rozhkov, Deputy Head of the FEZ Grodnoinvest administration.

The new resident is the Belarusian limited liability company Belzaviyapak. The company plans to implement a project worth over ?1.5 million to make environ-mentally friendly containers and packaging.

As part of the project the new resident company intends to build a new enterprise near the village of Kolbasino near Grodno. According to the source, it will be a new enterprise that will utilize energy-effective equipment.

The company has plans to make trays with lids to showcase eggs in sales-rooms, packaging for crops, and other products. This kind of merchandise is not made in Belarus at present. The containers and packaging will be made on the basis of cellulose and paper raw materials. Locally available bioorganic raw materials, includ-ing trash paper, will be utilized.

According to the FEZ Grodnoinvest administration, the products the new resident will make will satisfy the domestic market demand for the merchandise. Apart from that, the company plans to export over 80% of the output to Russia and the European Union.

The enterprise is supposed to be built and be commissioned in 2014.

belta.by, 8.01.2014

The amount of money to finance the development of the system to collect and process secondary resources in Belarus in 2013 has been increased by nearly Br5 billion to Br168.7 billion. The decision is laid down by Council of Ministers resolution No. 1122 of 23 December, the press service of the Belarus government told BelTA. In line with the document in 2013 procurement enterprises and self-employed businessmen will get Br40.6 billion as a compensa-tion for collecting the secondary resources sent to processing enterprises. As much as Br220 million will be apportioned for the

organizational, technical, and informational components of the system to collect, neu-tralize, and use the secondary resources, finance advertising and marketing researches into the management of waste and secondary material resources. As much as Br315 million will be transferred for the financing of experimental, testing, and R&D efforts in this field.

As much as Br112.02 billion will be spent on fulfilling the government pro-grams for managing consumer waste, introducing new technologies to collect waste and use it as secondary resources, building factories to sort and use municipal waste and secondary material resources in 2013. Previously the government planned to allocate nearly Br63 billion for these purposes. As much as Br14 billion instead of Br4 billion will be allocated for returning the loans taken out by companies and self-employed businessmen and for their paying interest rates on these loans.

The resolution comes into force on the publication date. belta.by,

26.12.2013

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STEM CELL TECHNOLOGY CENTER TO OPEN IN MINSK IN JUNE OAO MAZ, the

managing compa-ny of the holding c o m p a n y BelavtoMAZ, man-ufactures vehicles compliant with the

fourth ecological class and upwards as of January 2014, representatives of the company told Bel-TA.

The Belarusian automaker had to switch to fourth ecological class vehicles since the permit for manufacturing the third class ones expired on 31 December 2013. As from January 2014 customers in Belarus can get trucks and passenger vehicles that comply with the fourth ecological class requirements.

Meanwhile, till the end of 2014 cus-tomers will be able to buy third class vehicles, which were made in 2013 when conformity certificates were in effect and which are stored in the company‘s warehouses.

Major differences exist between the third class vehicles and the fourth class ones. The new vehicles are powered by Euro 4 en-gines, which boast high reliability and fuel saving. The new row engines have been de-signed and assembled using modern technolo-gies. The new vehicles also have a new cab and components of the MAZ 6430 family. The MAZ product range powered by Cummins and Mercedes engines has been expanded consid-erably.

The fourth ecological class vehicles made by MAZ are not an absolute novelty. Their product range relies on the models MAZ has been shipping to Russia since 2011. In addition to passing the company‘s tests the vehicles have received praise from customers

in real operation conditions. Taking into ac-count the higher consumer qualities and the more contemporary components the new vehicles cost much more than the third class ones.

MAZ representatives also told BelTA about new fourth ecological class trucks. Cus-tomers are now offered a new triple-axle dump truck MAZ 6501B9-8420-000 with the 6x4 wheel formula and an increased dump body volume. It is powered by a 412hp Euro-4 compliant engine made by the Yaroslav engine factory on a Renault license (the operational life is 1 million km). The truck has a heated end-dump body as large as 20m3. Unlike other dump trucks that try to increase the volume by raising the dump body sides the new MAZ model is less than 3m high and can be used with virtually any loaders.

Minsk Automobile Plant was founded in 1944. In 2009 it was reincorporated into the public joint-stock company OAO MAZ. In 2012 OAO MAZ became the management company of the holding company BelavtoMAZ. The holding company comprises ten enterprises. The holding company makes truck tractors, high-sided trucks, medium-capacity automo-biles, dump trucks, log trucks, short log trucks, cross-country vehicles, chassis fit for special equipment along with buses and trolleybuses. MAZ offers over 500 models and modifications of trucks and about 20 models of passenger vehicles.

belta.by, 3.01.2013

Also on:

MAZ to offer Euro 4+ vehicles as from January 2014

MAZ now offers Euro 4+ vehicle

MORE MONEY FOR BELARUSIAN WASTE RECYCLING SYSTEM

Belarus, Russia mull over cross-border tour Poozerie Blue Ring

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BNB, NEFCO sign loan agreement

Ecuador is interested in Belarus’ ion

Belarusky Narodny

Bank (BNB) and the

Nordic Environment

Finance Corporation ( N E F C O ) h a v e

signed a loan agree-

ment for setting up a fund which will pro-

vide financing for renewals of trucks for BNB’s clients in the transportation indus-try. NEFCO will provide €1.5 million from its

Investment Fund for the purpose, BelTA

learnt from the bank.

The new fund is expected to stimulate

a demand for trucks with lower fuel consump-tion, which in turn will bring environmental

benefits in the form of reduced emissions of

carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, carbon monox-

ide and black carbon. The main focus will be on trucks, which meet the Euro-5 standards. For

example the Nordic brands Volvo and Scania are

well represented on the Belarusian market.

―There is clearly a need for setting up funds aimed at greening the transportation

industry. With the help of this joint fund with the

BNB we can achieve both environmental results as well as promote transfer of Nordic cleantech

to Belarus,‖ says Investment Manager Thor Thorsteinsson at NEFCO.

―Belarusky Narodny Bank views the project as important for the country‘s economy.

Belarus is an important transport corridor.

Development of the material and technical base

of forwarders, replacement of old vehicles to

modern and more eco-friendly will help enhance the efficiency of transport and logistics compa-

nies, and will become an important act for the

protection of the environment,‖ Director General of Belarusky Narodny Bank Konstantin Tsereteli

stressed.

NEFCO is an international financial

institution established by Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Finland and Sweden in 1990. The

corporation finances investments and projects

primarily in Central and Eastern Europe, includ-

ing Belarus, Ukraine and Russia. NEFCO‘s main focus is to generate positive environmental

effects of interest to the Nordic region.

The public joint-stock company Bela-

rusky Narodny Bank (BNB Bank) was founded in

1992. The Bank offers comprehensive services

to individuals and corporations via nine banking service outlets in Minsk, Gomel, and Vitebsk.

The Bank focuses on small and medium-sized

businesses. The main shareholders of BNB Bank

are the Bank of Georgia (79.99% of shares) and the International Finance Corporation (19.99%).

The partners include the European Bank for

Reconstruction and Development and the Devel-

opment Bank KfW.

belta.by, 9.12.2013

GREEN BELARUS

P. 4 NEWS & EVENTS IN BELARUS

It is still difficult to obtain information about the safety systems used to store the spent nuclear fuel of the Ignalina nuclear power plant. The statement was made by head of the Bela-rusian public association Ecological Initiative Yuri

Solovyev during the online briefing hosted by BelTA’s press center on 20 December.

―We receive extremely fragmentary and insufficient information about the storage facility. There is also the language barrier: Lithuanian gov-ernment agencies publish information primarily in Lithuanian, additional money is needed to translate it into Russian. But I would like to reiterate that very little information is available. We will try to work on it,‖ said the expert.

Yuri Solovyev remarked that a lot more information about the project to build the Belarusian

nuclear power plant is available in the society and mass media.

belta.by, 20.12.2013

Also on:

Public BelNPP environment assessment impact survey presented in Vilnius

Results of public monitoring of Belarusian nuclear station’s environmental impact in Lithuanian

Lithuania invited to verify sampling results in Belarusian nuclear station environmental mon-itoring

European consulting for Belarusian nuclear power plant construction

Radiation survey around Belarusian NPP to reach Lithuania

Lithuanian MFA: Belarus fails to fulfill require-ments of EIA Convention

Clima East project has opened the call for bids to support organizations with the relevant powers working on climate change mitigation and adaptation, BelTA learnt from the Clima East project office.

―The financing of expert support is esti-mated at ?1 million. Assessment of the first tender will start on 1 February 2014,‖ the office said.

The mechanism of providing expert ser-vices under Clima East project is one of the ways the EU-funded Clima East project uses to provide technical support to stakeholders, partner countries of the European Neighborhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI) to develop, adopt and apply the most appropriate and efficient policies and actions aimed at climate change mitigation and adaptation.

According to the office, with the help of the mechanism, authorized companies from mem-ber states can apply for specific and specialized short-term expert services. Expert services help address certain tasks and achieve practical results in climate change policies. This mechanism func-tions alongside with other types of activity of the regional scale included into annual working pro-grams and pilot projects of Clima East.

Clima East aims to develop a climate policy and to support the countries of the Eastern region, including Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine and Russia in part of implementation of the measures to reduce green-house gas emissions and adapt to the impact of climate change. The project will be running until 2016.

Under the project Belarus will get assistance in improving the nation-al policy to mitigate the impact of climate change and to adapt to cli-mate change in accordance with the state program of measures to mitigate the impact of climate change in 2013-2020.

At the Clima East presentation workshop in Mink in October, the officials of the Minsitry of Natural Resources and Environment noted that Belarus needs to improve the normative-legal and normative-technical acts on the climate observa-tions, international exchange of information, cli-mate support and maintenance of the government bodies concerned, organizations and population of the country on the principles and approaches developed by the European Union.

Belarus has made great strides in formu-lating the state policy in the field of climate change. The country has acceded to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol, has consistently and sys-tematically taken steps towards the implementa-tion of international obligations in this area. Bela-rus regularly implements national programs of measures to mitigate the impact of the climate change. Measures for reducing greenhouse gas emissions are laid down in relevant industry eco-nomic programs.

belta.by, 17.12.2013

The Tourist Event Calendar 2014 has been unveiled in Bela-rus, BelTA learnt from Director of the National Tourism Agency Vyacheslav Chernov.

The Tourist Event Calendar is available on the official website of the National Tourism Agency in the Russian language. In the near future the information on major tourist events in the country will be provided in English and German.

The calendar includes more than 100 sport, military history and eco-tourism events. It provides the information on where to go for a gas-tronomical festival and what art exhibitions to visit. The calendar contains brief information on the events, the venues and contact information of their organizers.

The January events include the 26th edition of International Festi-val of Classic called Music January Music Nights, the international ballroom dances competition Vitebsk Snowflake, the celebration of the World Snow Day in Belarus, participate in sled dog race Zavirukha.

The print edition in English, which will feature the most interesting and original activities, will be published soon. The calendar will be distribut-ed at international tourist fairs, presentations, and at the embassies.

The website of the National Tourism Agency offers the interactive tourist map of Belarus and the registry of excursion routes.

belta.by, 9.01.2014

Also on:

Pointers, descriptions for major places of interest in Belarus before world championship

Minsk in top three most visited CIS cities by Russians in 2013

Export of tourism services to reach $360m in 2014

UNDP to fund 31 ecotourism projects in Grodno, Brest Oblasts

Two Belarusian eco-tourism projects to get $50,000 each from USAID

Close attention to ecological tourism in Belarus in Year of Hospitality

Plans for tourist and recreation center in Augustow Canal unveiled

BELARUS TOURIST EVENT CALENDAR 2014 UNVEILED

Information about Lithuanian spent nuclear fuel difficult to obtain

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BELARUS, RUSSIA TO SET UP BIODIVERSITY WORKING GROUP

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of Belarus and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Russia have plans to establish a standing working group to preserve biological diversity and develop special protec-tion areas, BelTA learnt from head for biological and landscape diversity at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of Belarus Natalia Minchenko.

The establishment of the working group has been discussed at a joint session of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of Belarus and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Russia in Minsk Vsevolod Stepanitsky, Deputy Director of the Department of State Policy and Regu-lation in Environmental Protection of the Russian Ministry of Natural Resources and

the Environment, said that the working group will include representatives of the nature ministries, reserves and national parks, research centers and NGOs of Belarus and Russia.

Special protection areas are among the priorities of Belarus-Russia cooperation in environmental protection. Indeed, the ecological systems of Belarus and Russia are inter-connected; cross-border natural areas are located on the territory of the two countries.

According to Natalia Minchenko, the two ministries will keep working together to protect landscape and biological diversity on the areas adjoining the Belarus-Russia border.

Vsevolod Stepanitsky reminded that it would be impossible to restore the bison population in Russia unless bisons from the Belovezh-skaya Pushcha National Park had been brought to the Central Bison Nursery of Russia in 1951. In 2013 Russia‘s national parks Ugra and Smolensk Lakeland signed a cooperation agreement with Braslav Lakes National Park.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of Belarus and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Russia regularly hold joint sessions and conferences aimed to expand cooperation. In 2011 Minsk hosted the international conference on sus-tainable management of wetlands in cross-border context. The same year Vitebsk played host to the conference ―Topical issues of cross-border areas of Belarus and Russia‖.

belta.by, 11.01.2014

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Clima East opens call for bids for technical assistance

Energy-effective multistoried build-ings will be erected in Minsk and Grodno with support of the United Nations Development Organization and the Global Environment Facility. The information was released by Alexander Grebenkov, the supervisor of the UNDP/GEF project meant to increase the energy effectiveness of residential houses in Belarus, at the international scientific and practical conference held in Minsk on 18 December, BelTA has learned.

Plans have been made to build three residential houses as part of the UNDP/GEF pro-ject. The construction company OOO MAPID will build a standard large-panel nine-storied residen-tial house for 140 apartments with the total area of 10,000 m2 in Minsk. Another house for 160 apartments with the total area of 12,000 m2 will be built by Belgeologiya in Minsk, too. In Grodno the enterprise Grodnograzhdanproject Institute will build a ten-storey house for 120 apartments with the total area of about 10,000 m2.

The basic design of the three buildings relies on existing civil engineering norms and provides for connecting the houses to centralized heating and hot water supply systems, the instal-lation of heating batteries in every apartment in addition to thermostatic valves and heating meters by default. The measures are supposed to secure the specific thermal value of at most 25kWh/m2 for heating, with heat consumption for hot water supply down by at least 40%, noted Alexander

Grebenkov.

The project is financed and is assisted by the UNDP and the GEF. The Energy Effectiveness Department of the State Standardization Commit-tee is the national agency in charge of executing the project. The main partners of the project include the Architecture and Construction Ministry, the Natural Resources and Environmental Protec-tion Ministry, and the two construction companies — OAO MAPID and Grodnograzhdanproject Insti-tute.

Sergei Semashko, Deputy Chairman of the State Standardization Committee, Director of the Energy Effectiveness Department, said that a lot is being done in Belarus to put together the necessary legal base on improving energy effec-tiveness and the use of renewable sources of energy. ―It is quite difficult to do much if the legis-lation for it is lacking. A number of documents have been worked out and are in effect in Belarus that help implement the policy on energy saving and the use of locally available fuels, including renewable sources of energy. Apart from that, a number of nationwide, industry-wide, and regional programs for energy saving have been adopted and allow implementing the outlined plans,‖ he added.

Many Belarusian agencies, including the Energy Effectiveness Department, the Architecture and Construction Ministry, are working on amend-ments to the national energy security concept. ―It has to be done for the sake of determining the tasks and goals that we will face in order to ensure the country‘s energy security,‖ noted the official. Work is also in progress to amend and expand the law on energy saving that was adopted in Belarus in 1998.

belta.by, 18.12.2013

Also on:

Kazakhstan’s first Belarusian-design energy-effective home in January 2014

UNDP/GEF support for multistoried energy-effective buildings in Minsk, Grodno

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EEC to cooperate with World Organization for Animal Health

The Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) plans to develop cooperation with the World Organization for Animal Health. The draft memorandum has been approved by the EEC Board, BelTA learnt from the press service of the commission.

The establishment of ties between the EEC and the World Organization for Animal Health is aimed at enhancing the efficient implementation of the EEC goals in what concerns the development and

harmonization of animal health laws, veterinary checks, veterinary support of the people's healthcare in the Customs Union, the press service noted. Besides, the move will allow the EEC to take a direct participation in the development and adjustment of international standards on animal health.

The World Organization for Animal Health is an intergovernmental organization responsible for improving animal health worldwide. The organi-zation has a total of 178 members, including the Customs Union states. It is recognized as a reference organization by the World Trade Organization.

belta.by, 11.12.2013

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МЕЖДУНАРОДНЫЙ

P. 5 NEWS & EVENTS IN BELARUS

NTI: BELARUS’ NUCLEAR SECURITY INDEX IMPROVES SIGNIFICANTLY

The radioactively contaminated land list will be reduced in

Belarus, head of the information and analytical department (radiation

monitoring) of the National Center of Radiation Control and Environ-

mental Monitoring Yuri Golikov told a press conference held on 9 January to discuss the analysis of meteorological conditions in Bela-

rus in 2013, the results of the monitoring of the atmosphere, surface

water, soil and radiation monitoring, BelTA has learnt.

According to Yuri Golikov, Belarus has a list of radioactive contami-

nation zones (villages and other areas). The list is revised by the Council of

Ministers of Belarus every five years depending on the radiation situation.

―The list will be revised in late 2014. A number of settlements will be re-moved from the list. Atmospheric, water and soil monitoring conducted on

these territories show that all the parameters meet the standard,‖ he ex-plained. This is due to isotope decay which reduces both soil contamination

density and public radiation dose.

The list of radioactive contamina-

tion zones (villages and other areas), approved by Council of

Ministers‘ Resolution No.132 of 1 February 2010, classes 1,904

settlements as zones of residence with periodical radiological moni-

toring, 480 settlements as option-

al evacuation zones, and 18

settlements as subsequent evacu-ation zones. There are no primary

evacuation zones in the list.

belta.by, 9.01.2014

Also on:

UN GA adopts resolution on Chernobyl-related cooperation

Japanese MPs study Belarus’ experience in Chernobyl accident management

President Nursultan Nazarbayev of Kazakhstan urges to

settle the issues related to the construction of a nuclear power plant in the country, BelTA has learned.

―We should decide on the loca-tion, investment sources, and the deadline

for the construction of the fourth oil refin-ery and a nuclear power plant,‖ said Nursultan Nazarbayev in his annual ad-

dress to the people of Kazakhstan.

Nazarbayev called upon the people to get rid of the Fukusima syn-

drome and develop nuclear power engi-

neering. ―We should remember about the prospects of development of nuclear engineering. In the future the need for cheap nuclear energy will be in-

creasing. The Fukusima syndrome is another issue. Where tsunamis occur,

earthquakes happen. Nuclear energy will be in demand as it is a clean kind

of energy. We should not fall behind,‖ Nursultan Nazarbayev said. The President emphasized that Kazakhstan is one of the leading

countries with regard to uranium extraction. The country should develop its

own production of uranium fuel and build nuclear power plants.

belta.by, 17.01.2014

Nazarbayev in favor of nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan

RADIOACTIVE CONTAMINATION ZONE LIST TO BE REDUCED IN BELARUS

Belarus, Russia to sign nuclear security agreement

For the past two years Belarus’ nucle-ar security index has improved significantly, NTI Vice President, Nuclear Materials Securi-

ty, Dr. Page Stoutland said during the presen-

tation of the NTI Nuclear Materials Security

Index at the Belarusian Foreign Ministry, BelTA learned.

At the beginning of this year, the Ameri-

can non-governmental organization Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) released the 2014 NTI Nuclear

Materials Security Index, a unique public assess-

ment of nuclear materials security conditions in 176

countries. On this index Belarus is ranked 9th, the highest among the countries of the former Soviet

Union. "Belarus is not only among the states with

the highest index. For the past two years the coun-

try has significantly improved its positions," said Page Stoutland.

He said that the NTI holds nuclear securi-

ty summits which have started bearing fruit. At the summits 2010 and 2012, many states in possession

of weapons-usable nuclear materials made commit-

ments to reduce them, to ratify the relevant con-

ventions and adopt certain measures. Dr. Page Stoutland explained that Belarus has not yet partic-

ipated in the summits, and expressed the hope that

this situation will change in the future. He also

stressed that Belarus holds an important place in

the Eastern European region, including owing to its scientific potential.

Speaking about the challenges in ensuring

the security of nuclear materials and strengthening security in the world, Dr. Page Stoutland drew

attention to the fact that at this stage there is no

effective global protection system for weapons-

usable nuclear materials. The legal framework of the matter remains weak. In addition, most of the

world's stocks of weapons-usable nuclear materials

are used under military programs not civilian pro-

grams and are not covered by existing international monitoring mechanisms. In general, he said, the

stocks of weapons-usable nuclear materials have

been gradually declining, but in some countries

they have been increasing.

According to Dr. Page Stoutland, among

the collective measures that could prevent the

spread of weapons-usable nuclear materials is reaching a consensus on the main principles of the

global system, and signing a treaty on nuclear

security and strengthening mechanisms for volun-

tary measures. This can become a platform for a

more substantive discussion on nuclear security in the world.

Nuclear Threat Initiative was established

in 2001 by American media mogul Ted Turner and

former U.S. Senator Sam Nunn with the aim to prevent nuclear terrorism and to combat the prolif-

eration of nuclear, chemical and biological weap-

ons. The Nuclear Security Index is based on open

sources and reports by states.

belta.by, 24.01.2014

Also on:

Belarus high in 2014 NTI Nuclear Materials Security Index

Belarusian nuclear station's core catcher inspected

Kiriyenko: Belarus NPP can withstand Fuku-shima-like disaster

Agreement between Gosatomnadzor, Ros-tekhnadzor to strengthen nuclear security

Belarusian nuclear industry watchdog’s stand-ards praised

Belarus seeks to involve Latvian experts into public survey of BelNPP

Expert: BelNPP meets all environmental re-quirements

Expert: IAEA monitors installation of safety systems at BelNPP

Public oversight over Belarusian nuclear pro-ject praised

IAEA praises Gosatomnadzor-Rostekhnadzor cooperation

Nuclear safety requirements getting tougher

Independent control over Belarusian nuclear station’s construction, operation

Openness of Belarusian nuclear station pro-ject praised

Nuclear energy to account for 40% of Belarus’ energy mix

Public survey of Belarus NPP environmental impact reviewed in Minsk

Belarus in close cooperation with IAEA in NPP construction

The Belarusian Emergency Situations

Ministry expects to sign a nuclear security regulatory agreement with

Russia's Federal Inspectorate for

Nuclear and Radiation Safety

(Gosatomnadzor) within a few days, Belarusian Department for Nuclear

and Radiation Safety head Olga

Lugovskaya told a press briefing in

Minsk on Tuesday. In her words, the Russian inspectorate could not oversee the

activity done on foreign territory but it was rendering technical support to

Belarusian specialists via its subsidiaries.

Only Belarusian specialists are presently supervising the construc-tion of the Belarusian nuclear power plant, Lugovskaya said. "This is the

issue of the country on the territory of which construction works are being

done. We do not shift our responsibility on anyone but we stay in touch with

our Russian colleagues. We expect to start this cooperation in 2014, and

Russian specialists may even be present on the construction site," she said. Also, Russian specialists will visit Belarus on inspection missions,

she continued.

Belarusian specialists were trained at the unfinished Novovoronezh

nuclear power plant in 2013. "We visited the construction site and our spe-cialists toured it together with experienced Russian colleagues and asked

their questions. Hopefully, the scale of assistance will be growing," she said. KyivPost,

17.12.2013

Also on:

Belarus, Russia to exchange information on nuclear safety

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Belarus’ Water and Sanitation Sector requires a new approach to achieve its objec-tives of addressing water supply quality is-

sues, closing water supply and sanitation

coverage gaps in rural areas, expanding

wastewater treatment capacity and aligning it with European standards, reads a World Bank

report “Republic of Belarus: Municipal Water Sector Review” which was presented to Bela-rusian stakeholders, BelTA learned from the Belarusian WB Office.

The report recommends developing a

national strategy of the water and sanitation sec-tor, consolidating service providers into regional

entities, developing performance-oriented manage-

ment approaches within service providers, review-

ing design norms, and clarifying a tariff policy ensuring both the long-term sustainability and

affordability of water and wastewater services in

Belarus.

―The policy recommendations aim to identify reform opportunities to enhance the quality

of water and

wastewater services in the country,‖ said Stephane Dahan,

World Bank Senior

Water and Sanita-

tion Specialist and lead author of the

report. ―The report findings also inform

prepa rat i on of Additional Financing

to Belarus Water

Supply and Sanita-

tion Project current-ly under develop-

ment,‖ he noted.

The report offers a

diagnostic of the water and wastewater services,

addressing the sector‘s institutional, organizational, technical, and economic aspects, with a specific

focus on urban areas. It documents the achieve-

ments made so far, identifies areas that need

strengthening, and suggests policies to help guide the Government as it seeks to increase the effi-

ciency and sustainability of water and wastewater

services.

The review concludes that the coverage,

quality, and reliability of the services have im-

proved steadily over the last decade, reaching high

levels of service particularly in urban areas. De-spite these successes thus far, issues remain in

particular with access to services in rural areas and

expansion of wastewater treatment services. Fi-

nancing sector development presents a major challenge given the rapid reduction of operating

subsidies and elimination of cross-subsidization

planned by the Government. These challenges call

for sound sector policies conducive to economically

efficient investment programs and to increased operational efficiency among service providers.

The current World Bank investment lend-ing portfolio in Belarus includes 5 operations for a

total amount of $547.5 million. Since Belarus

joined the World Bank in 1992, commitments to

the country have totaled $955 million. In addition,

grant financing totaling $23.7 million has been provided to about 30 programs including those with

civil society organizations.

belta.by, 16.12.2013

Also on:

Belarusian enterprises at Green Week Expo in Berlin

Belarusian enterprises to attend International Green Week Berlin 20-25 January

WB recommends Belarus to develop national strategy of water and sanitation sector

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GREEN BELARUS

PUBLICATIONS

P. 6 NEWS & EVENTS IN BELARUS

CHINESE ELECTRICAL OUTLET, OR HOW CHINESE HELP BELARUSIANS

TO SOLVE ENERGY DEFICIT? While all eyes focus on Ukraine deeply stuck at crossroads choosing a proper direction, Eastern and Western donors zeal-ously compete in Belarusian energy sector.

In early November, the World Bank offered a $90m loan for the re-construction of several Belarusian power stations. The loan became a new vivid example of how pro-Western international organisations and truly oriental Chinese credit agencies involve themselves in simi-lar energy projects.

World Bank's projects satisfy expectation of both the general public and government organisations involved, meanwhile the feasibility of accepting the Chinese financial support raises a hot debate. Belarus-

ian government receives loans from China in the form of export credits that limit Belarus to purchase only Chinese goods and services.

Belarus allowed China to carry out a number of its infrastructure projects, such as rail roads, highways and power plants. Belarus experts hotly debate the feasibility of these projects for Bela-rus. Belarusian government receives financial support from China in the form of export credits that limit Belarus to purchase only Chinese goods and services, thus, export-credit yuan‘s never leave China.

Chinese export credits pose only international assistance that Belarus receives with no condi-tionality for the regime type or necessary administrative reforms. The occurrence of Chinese export credits is an important step for Belarus development since Chinese export agencies provide a new source of capital, especially for much-needed infrastructure investment. Another positive consequence of the Chinese export credits is that a final good remains in Belarus and Belarusians benefit from using it in everyday life.

The question remains, however, what are the drawbacks of the Chinese participation in reno-vation and expansion of the Belarus infrastructure? This article discus some issues that come together with the utilization of the Chinese export credits in the electrical energy sector. This piece belongs to the larger analytical project that tracks numerous infrastructure projects carried out in Belarus with the help of the Chinese financial support.

Buying Ecological Concerns

Belarus adopted Chinese power generating turbines in several power stations. The largest Belarusian power plant, located in the town of Lukoml, received a turbine purchased via the Chinese export credits. Minsk Thermal Power Plant 5 (TPP-5) implemented another Chinese-made turbine. Dur-ing the renovation, the Minsk Thermal Power Plant 2 (TPP-2) two steam turbines, recovery boilers, and a booster compressor station.

China National Corporation for Overseas Economic Cooperation (CCOEC), previously called China National Corporation for Building Materials Exportation, became a general supplier of complex equipment for the TPP-2 plant. The reconstruction cost totaled $77m, where $47m came through the Chinese preferential loan from the Export-Import Bank of China.

Despite being a cleaner fuel than coal or oil, natural gas also pollutes environment by produc-ing nitrogen oxides and carbon dioxide. The Chinese could not instal already produced equipment in their power plants due to the new energy policy that discourage to build air polluting power plants.

Belarusian independent mass media has reported numerous outrages within the projects realised with the Chinese investments. Belarusian power plant renovations that involve the Chinese participation can indeed result in negative ecological consequences.

Even though China‘s central government promotes protection of the ecology, it is not responsi-ble for any single project. It only creates incentives for Chinese companies to start investment projects in Belarus without being responsible for any single product or service.

Contracting Out Foreign Labor

Belarus not only buys Chinese equipment, but also contracts out Chinese companies to con-struct on the power plants‘ site. An example here became a new power block built in a separate building at Minsk TPP-5. Utilising $340m of the loan, Chinese companies built a second power block with a ca-pacity of 400 MW. The Chinese carried out construction and installation completely on their own.

Can the Belarusians build power plants on our own? Do Belarusian engineering and construc-tion companies have enough of the work that they would not mind this job done by the foreign inves-tors? Even though the answer to the both questions remains obvious, Belarus lacks of investment capi-tal to initiate the renovation or construction on its own, and thus, appeals for the foreign financial sup-port.

The Belarusian case, however, does not stand out from the rest of the developing countries worldwide. Belarus belongs to a large group of countries who warmly welcomed the Chinese construc-tion companies.

The Chinese, using export-credits, sent experienced workforce to the countries with a demand for compatible types of power plants, and where with their investments and people such projects can start off. The Chinese have already completed a number of coal power projects in Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines and Vietnam.

Costs of Idle Equipment

In addition to the ecological and employment problems, Belarusians have to bear the conse-quences of the purchased equipment being idle. During the reconstruction of the TPP-5 Plant, the Chi-nese also supplied the necessary equipment. A year after launching the second block, the new Chinese gas turbine broke down with an estimated time for the repair of one year.

At the beginning of 2013, the Belarusian mass media became overflowed with rumours about the explosion on another block of Minsk TPP-5 Plant. The officials, however, claimed that the block stopped working due to the repair planned and intended to last until mid-March 2013.

After the modernization project, Minsk TPP-5 Plant became the fourth power station in the Belarusian energy system. The station, however, remained unproductive for at least six months. In the second half of 2013, neither one of the two blocks of the Minsk TPP-5 Plant are operating or producing energy.

This situation resembles the issues experienced by the plants in China. Even though China became a number one country in the capacity of wind power, one fourth of the farms still need connec-tion to the grid. While Chinese companies already satisfy the central government just by meeting capac-ity goals, Belarus cannot afford paying for new equipment that increases Belarusian electric production capacity only on paper.

Minsk's energy system remains energy deficient. Before launching the second energy block, Minsk TPP-5 Plant lacked about 800 MW of generating capacity. The new energy block of 400 MW launched into the system has decreased deficit, but has not resolved the problem. What about the harm caused to the environment? The new gas-fueled blocks in Minsk TPP-5 Plant indeed will compound the issues with air pollution.

In the meanwhile, the Chinese managed to give employment for contractors that had to change their specialisation if they were to stayed working in China. They also sold equipment already produced, but impossible to instal or use in Chinese power plants due to the new energy policy in place.

And to top it off, they expect to receive from Belarus an annual interest that varies from 2.5% to 5.33% to pay off the loans. The number of Chinese officials benefited from bribes and kickbacks from the tenders and construction remains hard to estimate.

BelarusDigest, 6.12.2013

Also on:

Belarus On The Russian Energy Needle

Peat to save over $150m for Belarus annually

Belarus to export at least $25-30m worth of peat bricks in 2014

Belarus’ Energy Ministry mulls production of peat briquette mini factories in 2014

Belarus’ positive experience in the use of energy-efficient technologies is featured in the compendium of human develop-ment stories from Europe and Central Asia “Empowering Lives, Building Resili-ence”, BelTA learned from the press ser-vice of the Foreign Ministry.

The publication presentation ceremony was held at the UN headquarters in New York on 11 December and was attended by Deputy Foreign Minister of Belarus Valentin Rybakov.

The third volume of Empowering Lives, Building Resilience prepared by the UNDP Regional Bureau for Europe and CIS compiles sustainable energy success stories from UNDP‘s work, demonstrating the transformational change in the lives of people and societies. A separate section of the review is dedicated to the positive experience of Belarus in the use of energy-efficient technologies.

The Belarusian Deputy Minister met with UNDP Administrator Helen Clark. Valentin Rybakov confirmed the interest of Belarus in expand-ing cooperation with UNDP in such areas as renewable energy and energy efficiency. The parties also discussed the prospects of organizing a visit of Helen Clark to Belarus in 2014.

belta.by, 12.12.2013

BELARUS’ EXPERIENCE IN USE OF ENERGY-EFFICIENT TECHNOLOGIES

FEATURED IN UNDP REVIEW

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Empowering Lives, Building Resilience

Summary This publication features success stories from countries where UNDP support has resulted in transformative changes, including by fostering the growth of institutional and human capaci-ties. To qualify as a transformational success, a story needed to demonstrate tangible and sustainable achievements, substantiated by data and personal testimonies. Since these depend on significant changes in institutions, attitudes and behaviours, which require long-term efforts, each story chronicles a develop-ment intervention that generally spans a 5-to-10-year period.

The third volume of Empowering Lives, Building Resilience, compiles sustainable energy success stories from UNDP‘s work, demon-strating the transformational change in the lives of people and societies. The stories explain how UNDP uses grant resources to catalyse larger flows of public and private financing, scaling up investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy. They also document the far-reaching positive impact of sustainable energy on economic development, poverty reduction, health, education and the environment.

Volume 1 READ >>

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Belarus, Slovenia agree on cooperation in power industry

Belarus and Slovenia agreed to develop cooperation in the power industry. The relevant framework agreement has been signed in Minsk, Deputy Foreign Minister Elena Kupchina said opening the 3rd meeting of the intergovernmental Belarusian-Slovenian commis-sion for trade, economic and sci-tech cooperation, BelTA has learnt.

Elena Kupchina named the first day of the meeting of the bilateral commission as constructive. The Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry played host to the Belarusian-Slovenian business forum. Partaking in it were 16 Slovenian companies and over 50 representatives of Belarusian business associations. Besides, the parties discussed all-round cooperation between the two countries. The first results of the work are in the signing of the memorandum of understanding on cooperation in privatization data sharing. According to the Belarusian official, the move will lay down a solid groundwork for cooperation in the investment area.

Director General for Economic Diplomacy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Slovenia Stanislav Rascan who is heading the Slovenian delegation views the current meeting of the commission an important instrument in outlining the most promising cooperation areas between the two states. He praised constantly growing mutual trade. Thus, in 2012 the trade between Belarus and Slovenia totaled $95.7 million, up 21.4% from the previous year. Belarusian exports went up by 13.1% to reach almost $13 million.

In January-October 2013 the mutual trade exceeded $84 million, going up 7.2% from the same period last year. In January-September 2013 the total volume of services made up $115.3 million, showing almost a 2.5-time increase from the same months a year ago. The growth was mainly secured through the implementation of a number of large-scale projects. Among them is the construction of the Kempinsky Hotel in Minsk, two power stations, and construction and upgrade of transformer substations.

According to Stanislav Rascan, Belarus and Slovenia have potential for strengthening cooperation. Among the promising areas is car industry, IT, energy, agriculture, tourism.

belta.by, 13.12.2013

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Belarus, Egypt discuss energy projects

МЕЖДУНАРОДНЫЙ ЭКОЛОГИЧЕСКИЙ БЮЛЛЕТЕНЬ

P. 7

THE EU HELPS BELARUSIANS SORT THEIR WASTE

MYADEL DISTRICT UNVEILS PLANS FOR SOLAR CELL POWER PLANT

On 13 December, a new waste

sorting station will start work-ing in the town of Masty in

the Hrodna region.

The European Union finances the

project as a part of national pro-

gramme for environmental protec-

tion in Belarus. Besides the waste

management problem, the EU supports other environmental

projects such as green energy and

water purification.

The Belarusian government frequently applies

for EU assistance and gladly accepts it. However, the official

line does not allow it to publicly demonstrate its cooperation

with the EU. Environmental protection serves as one of the areas where quiet cooperation between the EU and Belarus

is successfully developing.

Waste management

Belarus generates around 30 million tonnes of

waste annually, out of which household waste makes up 3

million tonnes. Each year, the volume grows by 20%. Exist-ing waste recycling stations have the capacity to recycle

only 12% of household waste, while in the EU the rate of

waste recycling is around 60%.

The rest is dumped into landfills and/or buried.

The existing landfills in Belarus often do not satisfy the the

basic standards in their way they carry out their operations

or with regards to their location or their usage. These land-fills pose a major threat to the environment in Belarus.

Although the government states that 85% of

urban housing has access to separate waste systems, the population does not yet actively use it. As a result, the

waste suitable for recycling makes up half of the total waste

and ends up in landfills.

The absence of equipment for recycling various

post-consumer waste constitutes another problem, as the

state has no resources to invest in this area.

Several foreign investors have already established

their business in this area in Belarus, such as the Swiss

company TDF Ecotech AG, the Swedish company Vireo

Energy, Austria's Strabag and the German compa-ny Remondis. However, they work only in several urban

centres, while most towns, the those that are small or

medium-sized, have no prospects for developing a sustaina-

ble waste management system.

The European Union appreciates the importance of

waste management and developed a program called ―Waste Governance‖ within the European Neighbourhood and Part-nership Instrument. A portion of the €5m budget of the

environmental cooperation program for 2010-2013 has

been allocated to working on this issue and

has implemented pilot projects in the Puchavičy district as well as in the towns of Masty and Kobryn.

The projects includes aligning Belarusian legisla-

tion with EU standards, raising public awareness of the

problem, and a more practical component – buying special

equipment and machines for sustainable waste manage-ment in these towns.

Green energy

Because of the enormous dependence of Belarus-

ian industry and households on Russian oil and gas imports,

the problem of alternative energy remains crucial for mod-ernise Belarus. Although the Lukashenka regime enjoys

cheap tariffs on Russian energy in comparison to

its neighbours who are less loyal to Vladimir Putin, the

prices consistently grow and it has become harder and

harder to make deals with the Russians.

Afraid of becoming fully dependant, the regime

seeks to develop alternative energy sources. In 2011, the government published its National Programme of Develop-

ment of Local and Renewable Energy Resources.

The programme aims to develop all reasonable sources of energy for Belarus, from peat and wood to wind

energy, geothermal energy and biogas. However, while

extraction of peat is a well-known to Belaruian indus-

try since Soviet times and does not require large invest-

ments, wind power still needs significant investment and takes much longer to become profitable.

Belarusian bureaucrats seek easier ways to imple-ment the programme despite the clear difference in envi-

ronmental impact that these two energy sources have. So

far, progress in the building of wind turbines has been very

modest. Moreover, foreign investors who work in this area

face bureaucratic barriers in Belarus.

In 2012, the German company Enertrag AG signed

a €360m agreement with the government to build a wind

farm of 50 turbines in the Dziaržynsk district near Minsk. But the Ministry of Defence banned the project on the

grounds that the farm will interfere with work of its anti-

aircraft systems. The offended Germans,

who had invested quite a sum at that point, decided to pull out of all of the

deals it had with the Belarusians.

Meanwhile, the European Union tries to persuade Belarusian government

that the cost of production is not the only

reason for developing alternative energy

sources. Environmentally friendly technol-ogies should be strategic priorities to keep

the country clean for future generations.

In May 2013, Belarus and the EU signed a contract for the Green Economy

project in Belarus worth €12m. The project

will finance the construction of a wind

turbine near Navahrudak and about twen-ty smaller green projects suggested by

local authorities of various regions of

Belarus.

River pollution and water

management

Most of the rivers in Belarus are

polluted with nitrogen and phosphorus compounds below or

above the so-called ―maximum allowable content‖, the value that shows the concentration of chemicals in water.

The main reason for this phenomenon is sewage water that

is being discharged from the urban centres of Belarus.

Although Belarus significantly reduced the use of

water in industry since Soviet times, the sewage treatment

facilities continue to use technology from the 1960s-1980s

and cannot sufficiently clean the water to an acceptable level. Moreover, in some enterprises cleaning facilities are

simply absent.

45% of rivers of Belarus make up a part of the Baltic Sea ecosystem, and their pollution directly impacts

the countries that border the Baltic Sea.

As Maira Mora, the Head of Delegation of the EU

to Belarus said, ―It is impossible to separate air, water, nature. We live very close to each other. Therefore, we do

not finance green economy projects in Belarus out of pure

altruism. It covers our mutual interests.‖

In March 2013, the Ministry of Housing and Com-

munal Service received a total of €65m for the project

to moderne the water-purifyication systems in five Belarus-ian cities. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Devel-

opment, Nordic Investment Bank and Northern Dimension

Environmental Partnership supported the project. Belarus

received €21m as a grant, and the rest of the sum will be a

loan on preferential terms.

Andrej Šorac, the Minister of Housing and Com-munal service recently explained that, ―the negotiations that preceded the agreement's signing took years.‖ The

minister showed a good example of how the Belarusian

authorities, especially institutions that directly implement

public policies, are interested in cooperation with the EU.

Despite the unfriendly rhetoric on the highest level

fuelled by Russian support, Belarusian

bureaucrats realise that the state lacks the funds and expertise to tackle envi-

ronmental problems. The projects de-

scribed above present only a small seg-

ment of environmental projects, both national and regional, that the EU is

implementing in Belarus.

The Belarusian government wastes huge sums of Russian subsidies for unearned,

politically motivated wage hikes, while

strategic approaches like sustainable

development receive less attention at the top. However, the Belarusian authorities

always welcome EU assistance in envi-

ronment protection – it does not under-

mine the political regime and helps local

people, thus making it a win-win situa-tion for all parties involved.

BelarusDigest, 13.12.2013

NEWS & EVENTS IN BELARUS

Plans have been made to build a solar cell

power plant in Myadel District, Minsk Oblast, BelTA learned from Leonid Bernyakovich, Deputy Chairman

of the Myadel District Executive Committee.

The project costs $12 million and is scheduled for

implementation in 2014-2015. The money will be provided

by a Lithuanian company. The facility will be located near

the village of Shvakshty, where the Vilnius-Polotsk motor-

way passes. The official said that the solar cell power plant appeals to the local authorities as an alternative source of

energy and a tourist attraction because it will be close to

the motorway.

It will not be the first alternative energy project in

Myadel District. Another one has been finished this year: a

1MW wind-driven generator was built in the agro-town

Zanaroch.

Approved by presidential decree No. 514 of 30

September 2010, the government program for developing

the Naroch Lake resort area in 2011-2015 envisages 22 projects and six of them have been finished already. Alt-

hough some investors have declared their intention to work

in the area in the past, they have

failed to do anything since then and the district administration has

removed them from the list of the

program‘s participants, explained the Deputy Chairman of the My-adel District Executive Committee.

―Now we welcome new investors. Their projects are in different

stages of implementation,‖ noted Leonid Bernyakovich. ―We have clearly determined the timeline for

implementing projects as part of

the program. The projects have to

be finished by 2015, the investors

have accepted these conditions and are working‖.

The projects include the construction of an eth-

nocultural tourism complex in the village of Nanosy, Myadel

District. The private investor has already poured over $3 million in it, with as much money still needed to complete

the project in 2014. More than ten wooden houses fash-

ioned after the local traditions are being built. They will be

able to accommodate 50 tourists at a time. The new com-

plex will create 70 jobs, with local residents hired as service personnel. The complex will feature an ethnographic muse-

um, a water mill, a bakery, a horse stable, and other things

that will surely attract tourists.

Leonid Bernyakovich also mentioned other projects

of the program that have been implemented. They include

the construction of a new bus station in the resort town

Naroch and new facilities in sanatoriums. A sanatorium for 136 in addition to a spa and a restaurant was commissioned

in 2013.

According to the source, the district administration does its best to assist the implementation of investment

projects. As part of the program investors are granted

preferences that allow using their

profits for the development of the infrastructure of the facilities,

said Leonid Bernyakovich. There-

fore, private business is interest-

ed in investing in the district's economy.

Investment efforts have been

stepped up in the manufacturing sector this year. ―Several enter-prises that even halted their

operation in the past for various

reasons are being revived, in-cluding a fish farm that became

operational once modernized,‖

noted Leonid Bernyakovich. Smoked fish products made by

the company are already available in retail in Myadel District and Minsk. The fish farm has installed a new line to tin fish

products. A total of 60 new jobs have been created at the

enterprise.

Naroch Beverages Factory is being modernized,

too. The company has set up a joint venture with a private

investor. A line to bottle drinking water and mineral water

has been commissioned in test mode. Plans have been made to install a line to make and bottle strong beverages

— cognac and brandy.

The company UE Ilovskoe is busy modernizing. This year it has presented a product, which is new in Bela-

rus — the alcohol beverage calvados, which is made of

apple alcohol.

The Naroch-based branch of OAO Molodechno Milk

Factory has completed a major refit. It has started making

new kinds of cheese and exporting them. The baking indus-

try has undergone changes. A bakery used to operate in the red and has been bought by a private company. A line to

make ring-shaped cracknels is being installed there. ―The investor has a good grip of the market, so we expect the

enterprise to be revived and further developed,‖ said Leonid Bernyakovich.

In January-October 2013 over Br450 billion from

various sources was invested in the Myadel District econo-my, said the official.

belta.by, 11.12.2013

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http://www.enefsys.gr/images/stories/first-solar.jpg

NEWS & EVENTS IN BELARUS

SUPPLEMENT "NEWS & EVENTS IN BELARUS"

TO THE DIGEST “GREEN BELARUS”

ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION

CENTER "ECO-INFO"

CENTRAL SCIENTIFIC LIBRARY NAS BELARUS

HTTP://ECOINFO.BAS–NET.BY

№ 1 (5), DECEMBER, 2013

JANUARY, 2014

REPRINT WITH REFERENCE TO GB

LEAVES IN ENGLISH

INTERNET-BULLETIN

HTTP://ECOINFO.BAS-NET.BY/ECOLOGY-BELARUS/ECOLOGY_NEWS_IN_BELARUS.HTML

The room contains materials prepared by

the news agency correspondents BELTA,

KyivPost, inhabitat, Belarus Digest.

WORKED ON THE PRODUCTION OF:

SOBOLEVSKAYA Y.V.

DESIGN AND LAYOUT: SOBOLEVSKAYA Y.V.

"Eco-Info" CSL NASB Address for correspondence:

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Website: http://ecoinfo.bas-net.by/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Green_Belarus

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SASAKI’S MASTER PLAN FOR MINSK, BELARUS TURNS AN AIRPORT SITE INTO A VIBRANT CULTURAL HUB

INTERREGIONAL SCHOOL OF AGRO- AND ECO-TOURISM TO OPEN IN

MOGILEV OBLAST IN 2014

According to the preliminary data, Minsk’s population surged by 20,900 from the start of 2013 to make up 1,921,900 people as of 1 January 2014, BelTA learnt from the main statistics department of the Belarusian capi-tal.

Migration grain (15,332) and natural increase (5,470) contributed to the increase of the population in the capital.

In 2013 there were 22,998 births in Minsk, up 361 from 2012. A total of 17,528 people died, up 55.

In 2013 an estimated 44,663 people moved in Minsk while 29,331 people left the capi-tal. Migration gain totaled 15,332 people.

belta.by, 29.01.2014

SUPPLEMENT “NEWS &

EVENTS IN BELARUS” TO THE DIGEST

“GREEN BELARUS”. http://ecoinfo.bas-net.by/ecology-belarus/

ecology_news_in_Belarus.html

The supplement was established

in 2013 as an informational and

educational resource that can be

freely accessed by all users inter-

ested in ecology and environ-

mental problems.

It is a digest of the most im-

portant news and events.

Published once a month.

Founded on state-of-the-

art ecological and urban strate-gies, Sasaki’s urban master plan celebrates the rare opportunity to

transform an existing 320-hectare

urban airport site into a dynamic, attractive, and sustainable new

district for the city of Minsk, Bela-

rus. The plan provides a 24/7 vi-

brant, diverse, and balanced mixed-use program that celebrates the

unique airport heritage, while also

re-integrating regional ecological,

vehicular, and public transport networks. The design brings Bela-

rusian landscape heritage, ecology,

and contemporary green living

together to create a compact urban

district. Read more: Sasaki‘s Master

Plan for Minsk, Belarus Turns an Airport

Site Into a Vibrant Cultural Hub | In-

habitat - Sustainable Design Innovation, Eco Architecture, Green Building

A district park system extends

from the existing regional riparian

corridor to the south of the site. This system permeates the development to

define several distinctive and walkable neighborhoods, creating a unique land-

scape—a ―city in a forest.‖ Various high density urban centers associated with

major transit stations provide strong

focal points of activity and amenity within close proximity of all residents

and visitors. Existing buildings and

airport infrastructure across the site are

retained and given new life. For exam-ple, the existing airport terminal is re-

imagined as an air museum, and the

existing runway is conceived as

‗Runway Park‘—a linear park that links each neighborhood while serving key

ecological and infrastructural aspects of

the plan. A centralized mixed-use, high-

density boulevard links plazas across

the site and connects the development

with existing rail stations to the east and west. Along this boulevard, a com-

mercial plaza and a future metro sta-

tion provide a new civic heart for the

development. The plaza will be con-stantly activated by pedestrians travel-

ing between the metro and the office

towers, which provide a stunning urban

backdrop. This activity is strengthened by ground floor retail engaging the

public realm, where water fountains,

pavilions, tree groves, and lawns pro-

vide year round delight. The cultural

plaza with museums, art galleries, and other uses is located on the west side of

the site. The station plaza is located at

the existing railway station on the east

side. Additional public spaces bring a unique identity to each neighborhood

and encourage walkability. inhabitat,

20.01.2014

Minsk population up 20,900 to 1.92 million in 2013

http://assets.inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2014/01/3.aerial-537x364.jpg

The Government of Belarus and the European Commission have signed an agreement to finance the project “Mobility Scheme for Targeted People-to-People Contacts (MOST)” within the framework of the EU’s Annual Action Programme for Belarus. On behalf of Belarus the project was signed by Vice Premier Anatoly Tozik, BelTA learnt from the press service of the Belarusian Foreign Ministry.

―In line with the agreement, the EU will provide technical aid of €5 million to promote people-to-people contacts between Belarus and the EU in three sectors, such as culture, education and research,‖ the Foreign Ministry informed.

The MOST project will facilitate the exchange of best practices and knowledge between the citizens of Belarus and the EU member states.

belta.by, 20.12.2014

Belarus, European Commission sign agreement to finance MOST project

A revised ver-sion of the list of high-tech products was adopted by Council of Ministers’ Resolution No.1040 as of 4 Decem-ber 2013, BelTA learnt from the press service of the government.

The list of high-tech products is compiled by the government and approved by the President. In line with the Tax Code of Belarus, the profits on selling high-tech products are taxed at 10% or exempt from taxes if revenues from selling high-tech products account for over 50% of a company‘s total revenues. The tax deductions are aimed at stimulating the production of high-tech goods and raising in-vestments into this field.

―The previous list of high-tech products that was passed by Council of Ministers‘ Resolution No. 574 as of 23 June 2012 was revised taking into account the tasks to promote high-tech industries set forth by Belarus‘ technology devel-opment strategy for the period until 2015. The updated list features only those goods that are manufactured using technologies of the fifth and sixth technological paradigms,‖ the press service informed.

Upon suggestions of inter-ested agencies and organizations, the list also features goods that passed the state scientific and tech-nical examination and were ap-proved by the State Committee for Science and Technology. These are optical devices, measuring instru-ments and test equipment, as well

as assembly equipment for microelectroni cs (Planar company), optical devices (Planar, Peleng, Optoelectronic Systems), medical devices, equip-ment and instruments (TahatAxi), process con-trol systems (Aquar Sys-tem, Electrotechnical S o l u t i o n s ) , r a d i o -navigation equipment (A rmPro je c tSe rv i ce) , spare parts to aircrafts

and spacecrafts (Peleng).

With a view to optimizing tax administration, the following products were removed from the list of high-tech goods: Euro-4, Euro-5, Stage-3А, and Stage-3В engines (MMZ), large-size tires (Belshina), loaders, vehicles and special-purpose machines (MTZ, MAZ, Amkodor, Vitstroitekhmash, Seismotekhnika).

In line with Belarus‘ tech-nology development strategy for the period until 2015, the fifth techno-logical paradigm features infor-mation and communication technolo-gies, biotechnologies, micro- and radio-electronics, robot industry and instrument making, computing machinery and fiber-optic devices, office equipment, medical equip-ment, pharmaceutical industry, aerospace industry, nuclear energy, gas production and processing. The sixth paradigm includes nano-industry, cell technologies, artificial intelligence solutions, hydrogen power.

The resolution comes into force on 1 January 2014.

belta.by, 9.12.2013

BELARUS UPDATES LIST OF HIGH-TECH PRODUCTS

http://lunar.thegamez.net/greenenergyimage/eco-

The interregional open school of agro-and eco-tourism will open in Mogilev Oblast in 2014, BelTA has learnt from Andrei Pakhomenko, the head of the EN-DO public ecological association.

The project will be implemented in Chausy, Mstislavl, Cherikov, Slavgorod, and Krichev Districts of Mogilev Oblast within the framework of the tourism cluster ―The land of life-giving water springs‖. Other eastern dis-tricts of Mogilev Oblast can join the project. The school will also enjoy the support of the Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe and the Sector program. The organizers are also planning to use the experi-ence of the Chausy school of agro-and eco-tourism development.

Local residents will be involved in the project: they will study the successful experi-ence of agro-and eco-tourism and the best practices of agricultural management in Mogi-lev Oblast and other regions of the country, will increase their potential in agro-and eco-tourism business management, and will share the experience with residents of other regions. In order to increase the professional level The school will cooperate not only with owners of already existing farmsteads, but also with those who are planning to engage in this promising branch of business.

―We expect to implement these tasks by conducting training workshops in the rural area with participation of Belarusian and for-eign experts. We will evaluate the necessity of such training and organize experience ex-change visits, workshops on the creation of tourism products from tourism routes to eco-museums. We expect to set up at least one eco-museum in each district and develop the network of green routes in the framework of the tourism destination ―The land of life-giving water springs,‖ Andrei Pakhomenko said.

The project will be launched early next year when an interregional working group will be set up and a cooperation agreement will be signed.

belta.by, 11.12.2013